24 hour shutdown in Itanagar forces Muslims to spend Eid indoors

Itanagar: An indigenous youth organisation in Arunachal Pradesh called for a 24-hour shutdown in the state capital region around Eid, saying the protest was aimed at drawing attention to what it described as the issue of undocumented immigrants and unauthorised structures.

The Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation had announced the bandh from 5 a.m. on May 28 to 5 a.m. on May 29. The group alleged that the government had failed to act against undocumented migrants and against what it claimed were unauthorised religious structures, including some mosques and madrasas.

Reports indicated that the shutdown disrupted normal life across Itanagar, Naharlagun and nearby urban areas, leading many Muslims in the region to observe Eid largely indoors. Restrictions and disruptions were also reported to have affected members of the Muslim community in other parts of the state and neighbouring Assam, Siasat Daily reported.

Local authorities stated that the bandh was illegal under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, citing Supreme Court rulings against such shutdowns. As a precautionary measure, police detained certain individuals associated with the protest.

The shutdown drew criticism from various quarters, with some residents and observers alleging that the action effectively targeted Muslims by taking place on a major religious festival. However, APIYO president Taro Sonam Liyak rejected those allegations. He said that the organisation had been campaigning on the issue of alleged illegal migration since 2023 and that its objective was to protect the demographic interests of indigenous communities.

Liyak further claimed that the group had repeatedly urged the government to identify and deport alleged undocumented migrants from Bangladesh and had also questioned the legality of certain mosques and madrasas. According to him, the decision to call the shutdown was taken because the government had failed to respond adequately to those concerns.

State Deputy Inspector General of Police Tumme Amo reportedly appealed to the public not to support the bandh and encouraged residents to continue their normal activities under police protection. Authorities later stated that no incidents of violence had been reported during the shutdown.